Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines01:19

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines have both sedative and hypnotic properties. They include compounds such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Structurally, their cores are similar, consisting of the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring, but they share a common mechanism of action in the central nervous system (CNS).
Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. They bind to the GABAA receptor, increasing its affinity for GABA, which opens chloride...
Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics01:19

Depolarizing Blockers: Pharmocokinetics

Depolarizing blockers are administered through intravenous injection. Succinylcholine is the most common choice of depolarizing blockers in emergency clinical practices. Although they have a rapid onset, they readily diffuse away from the motor end plate into the extracellular fluid. They are metabolized by enzymes such as liver butyrylcholinesterase and plasma pseudocholinesterases. This produces a short duration of action, typically 5-10 minutes long, unlike nondepolarizing blockers, which...
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effect of Propofol on microRNA Expression Profile in Adipocyte-Derived Adult Stem Cells.

Chonnam medical journal·2015
Same author

Comparison of disinfective power according to application order of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 10% povidone-iodine.

Korean journal of anesthesiology·2014
Same author

Predictors of difficult intubation defined by the intubation difficulty scale (IDS): predictive value of 7 airway assessment factors.

Korean journal of anesthesiology·2013
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat
12:41

Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat

Published on: August 28, 2021

Dexmedetomidine sedation in ICU.

Soo-Bong Yu1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
|June 9, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) offers a novel approach to intensive care unit (ICU) sedation. This selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist promotes sleep-like sedation with potential benefits like reduced mechanical ventilation and delirium.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Current intensive care unit (ICU) sedation practices emphasize light sedation and daily assessments.
  • Traditional sedatives like benzodiazepines and propofol have limitations, including adverse effects and unfavorable pharmacokinetics.
  • Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a new selective α(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist for ICU sedation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a sedation agent in the intensive care unit (ICU).
  • To compare DEX's sedation profile with traditional agents, focusing on mechanism of action and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews evidence from comparative studies on DEX's mechanism of action and clinical effects.
  • Analysis focuses on DEX's interaction with α(2) receptors, locus ceruleus (LC), and other brain nuclei.
Keywords:
DeliriumDexmedetomidineICUSedationSleep

More Related Videos

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat
12:41

Acquisition of Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in the Rat

Published on: August 28, 2021

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
07:54

Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy (DISE) with Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Published on: December 6, 2016

  • Evaluation of DEX's impact on sedation quality, patient cooperation, and opioid requirements.

    • Main Results:

    • DEX induces sedation, analgesia, and cardiovascular effects via α(2) receptors, mimicking non-REM sleep.
    • It maintains orexinergic activity, potentially aiding attention and cooperative sedation.
    • Comparative studies suggest DEX may reduce mechanical ventilation duration, ICU length of stay, and delirium prevalence.

    Conclusions:

    • Dexmedetomidine (DEX) provides a unique, sleep-like sedation with potential clinical advantages in the ICU.
    • Its mechanism of action offers an excellent safety profile compared to traditional sedatives.
    • DEX is a promising agent for optimizing sedation strategies in critically ill patients.